The city of Karachi has been the site of numerous violent confrontations between rival ethnic groups since 1986. [ Henry Kamm, "By the Sea, a City Burns: Squalor and Rage," in The New York Times, 19 April 1988.] Most of these confrontations have been between the Mohajir and the Pathan (Pushtun) communities. [James Bone, "Is Zia Tearing the Nation Apart," in Christian Science Monitor, 3 - 9 August 1987.] Punjabis do not appear to have played a major role in these conflicts. The Mohajir community, however, does harbour grievances against what they perceive to have been the discrimination practised by the Zia regime in which Punjabis and, to a lesser extent, Pathanis received preferential treatment in employment opportunities. [Hamish McDonald, "A New Ethnic Force Flexes Its Muscle," in Far Eastern Economic Review, 1 December 1988, p.14.]
The Punjabi Pakhtoon Ittehad was not a major force in the November 1988 national elections. [ Hamish McDonald, "Benazir's Big Moment," in Far Eastern Economic Review, 1 December 1988, p. 10.] All the seats in greater Karachi were won by the Mohajir Qaumi Movement(MQM) [ "Ethnic Force."] which has since formed a ruling alliance with the Pakistan People's Party . Research does not indicate that there have been major incidents of violence involving the Punjabi Pakhtoon Ittehad in Karachi since the elections, although some ethnic unrest has occurred. The Punjabi Pakhtoon Ittehad was formed in 1987 to represent the interests of the Punjabi and Pathani communities.

The Europa Yearbook for 1988: A World Survey, (London: Europa Publications, 1988), p. 2084.]

George Thomas Kurian. Encyclopedia of the Third World. Vol. 2. New York: Fact on File, Inc., 1987.

The Europa Year Book 1988: A World Survey. London: Europa Publications, 1988.

Hamish McDonald, "Benazir's Big Moment." Far Eastern Economic Review. Hong Kong: 1 December 1988.

The New York Times. 19 April 1988.

Le Devoir. Montreal: 11 janvier 1988.

The Globe and Mail. [Toronto], 12 October 1987; 27 August 1987; 23 & 22 July 1987; 16 & 15 December 1986; 5 & 3 November 1986.

Christian Science Monitor. 3 - 9 August 1987.

The Ottawa Citizen. 22 July 1987; 5 November 1986.
Endnotes